Hello there Y'all

Hey There!!!

 

Hope everyone had a great week! I know I sure did! It was a wild week this week.

 

*** Here are the photos from last weeks email that I received today:

Having problems uploading these photo's will try again and hopefully add to this weeks Blog update

 

We spent P-day in Cerro De Pasco with the Zone, and we played basketball against a bunch of Peruvians. Anyway, after about 5 minutes I was huffing for air since we were playing at about 15,000 feet!! But we had a great time. Got our butts kicked since we couldnt breathe. But I think we won like 2 of the 8 games we played. HAHA. I really like having P-Days with the Zone. (1) because they speack English, it is nice to be able to speak a little English like once a week. (2) I definitely get to know the other missionaries a lot better. When we stay over night in Cerro we stay with the Zone leaders, one is from South Jordan, Elder Christensen, and the other is from Logan, Elder Larson. They are both really cool people. It is nice to be able to talk full on doctrine that I can understand with them that is for sure.

This past week we found 10 new investigators. That is a new record for me. The only problem is that, they are all NOT MARRIED and living together. So we have a little work to do with them. They all seem really interested in being baptized and following Christ more in their lives, just gotta get them married. That really seems like the most difficult thing here in Peru. Everyone lives together and isn't married. So we are gonna work hard with them all this week that we can help them all prepare for baptism by being married.

We had interviews this week by president finally. What had happened was that He was leaving La Merced, and a giant boulder had fallen on the road so in his own words, "we were stuck in La Merced for an extra two days." I told him I did not feel bad for him at all. FYI: La Merced is like the most Jungly part of the mission. He then went on to describe to me the Hotel they stayed in. He said they are little seperate houses/cottages that are next to the river. So at night all you can here are the frogs and the river flowing..... He then asked me, I believe seriously, "Would you be mad at me if I kept you here in Carhuamayo another transfer?" All I could do was laugh after he had explained this basically paradise in La Merced. He took my laugh as a, yes I would be really mad. So hopefully that means next week I get to move to a new area!!

This P-Day we are going to be staying in Carhuamayo. Hopefully we can find something fun to do here. I doubt it but hey we can search right?

I hope every one has a great week. Not much more going on here in the Mountain tops of Peru! I can finally send home pictures this week so look for those!!

Love you all,

Elder Bell

Hello from Cerro!

*** This is last weeks email, sorry for slacking this. Not a lot to say or any photos, yet......
 

 

Hey everyone, hope you had a great week!


I am in Cerro for this P-Day! Hanging out with the Zone and stuff. We really have a great Zone here. Everyone is just way cool and most of them speak English, so I can get my English fix for the week being out on the island of Carhuamayo, no one speaks a word of English so it is nice to communicate clearly where people understand me completely. haha
 

This week was really good. We are working on reactivating our Elders Quorum President and our old Branch President. The Branch really needs the blessings of the priesthood. we only have two active priesthood holders so reactivating the two of them will prove to be HUGE for the members who do not have the priesthood in their homes. We were able to cut the crap and get straight to the problems with both of them and we have really been able to help them understand the need of having the gospel in their lives and the blessings and the feelings we recieve when we do have. This is really rewarding to watch someone go through the repentance process and being a part of the process and helping. Makes you feel like you are doing a good thing. (Because I know I am).
 

Last week we went for P-Day to to a bunch of rocks that are suppose to look like animals. Yeah it was a lie but we had a great time as a Zone. We found a cave that had a bunch of Human bones in it. A little creepy but we took some pictures and had some good laughs along the way. I wish I had the video, all the elders were trying to jump over this small river, Well the ground around it was a little wet and some of the elders took a little slip right before they jumped and completely fell in the river. It was HILARIOUS. If I can get them to send me the videos I will send them next week. It was awesome, Elder Thatcher and Elder Garcia full on fell in with style it was great!!
 

The rest of the week flew by and not a whole lot happened just normal missionary work chattin with people and hearing some crazy weird beliefs but I am enjoying my self and am going to send a few pics home this week so hopefully you enjoy them!!


Love you all and hope you have a great week!!


Elder Bell

Carhuamayo.........OOHHH CARHUAMAYO!!!

*** Short and sweet this week, They have been having so much fun on P-Day's the last few weeks. They are headed to see some Rock Formations today so he needed to go quickly. I have been promised new pictures next week......

Well I am still here, still alive, and still frozen :) Just kidding but not kidding. This week was interesting. We had two days where it HAILED for like 30 minutes HARD. I have some pictures but I will be sending them next week. It was a ton of hail. Then the two days following that it was nothing but blue skys and scorching sun. I prefer this. We found three new investigators this week. And one of them attended church. It was really cool They all have very very good questions about God, his church, and the Restoration. It has been a great week. it felt like it moved as slow as a snail though.

 

Something that I have been thinking about this week really hard is this question, it is profound and if anyone has an answer for it, please respond to my email. What is the worth of a human soul? *** Answers???

 

This question came about as we have seen our church attendance drop drastically this transfer. We have worked really really hard this transfer to reactivate and find new investigators. But most of the people in Carhuamayo believe that, the church of christ is in their heart, and they dont need to do more because they already have it. But, when we attend church not only do we renew our covanents with God, we also learn and grow in a multitude of ways. We receive blessings for being faithful to follow our Savior Jesus Christ. So, is your salvation worth 10 dollars? 50 dollars? 1,000 dollars? Or, do you not have a pricetag? Are you firm in your beliefs to where you know that working and denying the covanents you have made is wrong? Are you ready to make a change in your life to where you can accept the blessings of Heaven with open arms and give thanks everyday for the blessings you have already recieved? So I ask all of you, who may read this, What is the price tag of your salvation? 

 

I love you all, and I pray for all of you everyday. I pray that you all may find the blessings and feel the love of our Heavenly Father every day as you search and fight through this crazy thing we call life!!

Love you all,

 

Elder Bell

This week in Carhuamayo....

Well this week started off Great!! We went up to Cerro De Pasco for a P-Day with our whole Zone! We played Football and Soccer for like 3 hours on a huge turf soccer field. When we returned to Carhuamayo, I wasn't feeling too well. But we continued on with our lessons that night. In the middle of the night, about 2 in the morning, I got up from bed went outside to the bathroom and I threw up, and had major diherrea!! It was awful! But, I felt a little better, We call this in the mission, "Double Dragoning" because we shoot fire out of both ends.... Anyway, I only did this 4 different times throughout the night. Needless to say, last Tuesday we did not do any work. Through Wednesday I did not feel very good. Thursday I began to improve and we went out and taught. Now Thankfully, I am back to normal, Peru-normal at least haha.

 

A few things from this week. We found out last week that our Investigator, Brother Melanio, passed away last Sunday from Cancer. He wasn't meeting with us at the time, but I am still grateful for the times we did have with him and his family. Luckily for him now, he is not suffering from his pain and can now learn of the Gospel more in the Spirit World. I am grateful for the knowledge of The Plan of Salvation God has given to us. We know that we must prepare here so we may live forever with our Spiritual Father.

 

 

Also, just yesterday, Elder Jones passed away from his fight he had here in the mission. I know he was doing the Lords work in his final days, and that he will be welcomed into heaven with open arms for his faithfulness here on the Earth and his love for the Work of the Lord here in this life. I ask that you will continue to pray for his family, especially his Wife Sister Jones, that they may be comforted by Heavenly Father and they may know that Elder Jones is at peace again and awaits for all to return with him.

 

The work in Carhuamayo is improving. Thanks to the blessings we are recieving from the Lord. Elder Arroyo was called to be 2nd Councilor in the Branch here. Which is really good. 3 weeks ago, the 1st Councilor READ his talk from a BOOK. Not just any book. But a Catholic Church book. Oh dear... We have some work to do here hahahaha. Glad to have Elder Arroyo here now. It is kinda weird since he was my first zone leader. But we work hard together to get the work done here and are trying to train the branch presidency here how to run their branch. We have a lot of work to do. But coming from the Mother Ship :) and having had a very good Bishopric back home to help me learn how to run the church, We are able to help them a lot!

 

That is all I have for this week, it has been up and down but we are back on the uphill swing of things Hope you are all doing well and loving life in the winter wonderland!!

 

Love,

Elder Bell

One More transfer in Carhua-Iceburg‏!!!!

Yes I am still here in Carhuamayo!! Yes I am still cold but I have basically adjusted to the cold thank goodness!!

 

I have a new companion, Elder Arroyo. Funny story. Elder Arroyo was my first Zone leader when I was in Tingo Maria!! So it is a little weird but he is a hard worker and I am thankful to finally have a companion who has the drive like I do! Right now we are really working on re-activating members here and searching for more priesthood holders here in Carhuamayo. It really brings blessings to the members when they have strong priesthood holders in the area that can help them whenever they need a blessing or help with a project in their house.

 

Also we have began to work WITH our Branch President. Previous missionaries in the area have just had a bad taste in their mouth about the Branch President, and instead of working WITH him they worked AGAINST him. That is why, I think atleast, the area here is so difficult. But now. We are working with him and things are really turning around. Saturday morning we decided to do our service in the Capilla (Chapel of the Church). We spent 2 hours cleaning the entire church. Reorganizing the benches in the Chapel, sweeping the floors and cleaning the chalk boards. When people came to church Sunday morning, they definitely noticed the difference and the change in the Spirit was amazing. The Branch President, was very grateful, I know this is the beginning of a good relationship with the Branch President here.

 

One other important matter I would like to share with you back home. Here in the Mission Peru Huancayo we have an Elder couple working as missionaries here, Elder and Sister Jones. Right now, Elder Jones has contracted some sort of infection, I am not sure exactly how. But he is really really sick. Apparently for the past 8-9 days, he has been in a coma. The day of Christmas he got sick, the day after Christmas, it only worsened and has been in the Hospital since then. This is all the information we have right now as missionaries here, We have been praying and fasting ferverently for him and are really hopng he begins to improve. I know that through fasting and prayer, we do NOT change the Will of the Lord, But fasting and prayer, helps us understand and accept the Will of the Lord, whatever it may be. We will continue to pray and fast for Elder Jones, his wife, and his family, that they may know that Christ is with them in this time of need and understands their circumstances through his Atoning Sacrifice he performed for all of us. I hope you all will try to send a few prayers his way right now as he is fighting for his life here in a Peruvian hospital of all places.

 

I am always thankful for the support and letters I recieve from all of you. Thank you for your love and I hope everyone had a Great and Safe New Year!

Love to all of you from afar!

Elder Bell

Dios es Bueno Todo el Tiemp y Todo el Tiempo Dios es Bueno‏

So, what a great week!!

I had a great time talking to my family, they are just amazing and I love them all very much!! It was really hard to say good bye and to click close on the video chat we had going. But I had to return back to work.

Skyping with my Family:

I was given this T-Shiort when I was Transferred to Carhuamayo, yes we really are frozen all of the time :)

Skyping on Christmas - it was so good to see each other & Katie Brandon too!!!

Christmas 2014 Carhuamayo Peru:

Christmas Eve Goodies

Christmas Eve with Pensionist & Family

Christmas Eve Party

Christmas Eve Dinner

Christmas Gift from Pensionista and Family

Christmas Gift from Pensionista and Family

 

This past week we had a baptism! It is very rare here in Carhuamayo to have a baptsim. But, we did have one. On Friday night, Elder Moraga suprised me when he said, "You can do the baptism tomorrow." I was shocked, he had been working with this investigator for a long time, but he allowed me the opportunity to perform the baptism this past Saturday! it was a really great service, we had 5 other investigators there and almost the whole zone of Cerro De Pasco! It was a wonderful late Christmas present that I received!

This coming week, we have 1 possibly 2 more baptisms!! Sarita, who is just awesome, we have been working with her and are really happy for her desire to change her life. She has really come a long way and we have noticed it and the change that takes place when we live the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
 

 

So I don't have a whole lot more to talk about this week. We have transfers this week, Elder Moraga is most likely leaving. (I hope he does because I dont want to be here longer than 3 months haha if he stays here, that means I will be here atleast 4 1/2 months) I am really grateful for Elder Moraga, he is a really good missionary and a really cool guy. I am glad I had the opportunity to serve with him.
 

 

I hope you all had a great Christmas, and that you are safe and have a good New Years Eve!!
 

Love you all!
 

Elder Bell

It's Beginning to Feel a lot like Christmas!!!!!

So I do not have a whole bunch to say this week. This past week we had our "Christmas Party" with like 6 zones in Huanuco with Presidente Henderson. We had a great time. What I enjoyed the most was the WEATHER. Oh man. It is perfect temperature in Huanuco!!! The party was great and it was great to see Elder Bush, Elder Wittaker and Elder Holmes. (See photos)

 

 

 

As we approach Christmas this week. I wanted to share a few thoughts I have had this week....

The first is, I have really been studying a lot about the Grace of Jesus Christ, since his life was a gift to us from our Heavenly Father, it seems only right to share a little bit about his life as we celebrate his birth. The Grace given to us by Jesus Christ when he suffered for all of our sins, temptations, afflictions, sufferings, pains, etc. is a gift. A talk that I truly love, was given by Brad Wilcox, at a BYU devotional a few years back called, "His Grace is Sufficent." Wow. For many people, Grace is really hard to comprehend. For me it was. I had no clue what Grace really was until I studied this talk. I learned from this talk that this life is practice. We are to practice heaven here on Earth. One thing Brad said that really sticks out to me is this, "Heaven will not be Heaven for those who do not choose to be Heavenly". Well isnt that the truth?? When we practice Heaven here on Earth, primarily through the teaching of Christ and his example he was for us, we learn how to be Heavenly. So many people when they get to heaven will be so uncomfortable there that they will choose to leave. But when we apply the life of Jesus Christ in our lives here in our earthly mission, we can LEARN heaven, and LEARN to be Heavenly and LEARN what it takes to live again with our Heavenly Father, through the GRACE of Jesus Christ. If I dont make sense, because my brain gets confused going back and forth between Spanish and English, just go listen to this talk, :) you will learn a ton from it. It has helped me be a better person so maybe give it a shot and listen to it too!

 

 

 

 

The second is this, we all have faults. We all are imperfect beings, and as King Benjamin said, "unworthy creatures". But why are we unworthy? Because we are imperfect, we can not return to live in the presence of God, WITHOUT applying the Grace and Atonement of Jesus Christ. Through him we have the opportunity, to become clean, to live a life filled with charity and love. Christ's was the perfect example to us. One yes, because he lived a sinless life. But two, because he taught us how to be heavenly, and that as we work through our struggles and kinks, we can help others with their kinks and struggles too. When we apply his teachings and his life, into our lives, we can progressively become worthy creatures, that one day we may all live with our families for eternity, in the presence of our Heavenly Father.

 

 

 

I hope that this knowledge brings you peace as it has me. If you cant understand what I have said, study Grace. And study the life of Jesus Christ, since he is our perfect example, learn from Him and apply what you learn to your life, and you will come to see, that your life will be filled with more happiness than you could ever imagine.

 

Thank you all for being imperfect ;) just kidding. Thank you all for being human. And always helping others overcome their challenges, this is a Christ like attribute that not many people have... but I have been fortunate enough to surround myself with people who love me, and love to help me and others improve their lives.

 

I pray that you all may have a Merry Christmas with your families, and that you will have a desire to not only improve your lives, but the lives of others too.

 

Con todo mi amor,

Elder Bell.